Mega movie star Meryl Streep was attacked as an “anti-Zionist” on social media this week for referring to fellow actress Natalie Portman’s birthplace as “Jerusalem,” without mentioning Israel.

At the 2017 Golden Globes on Sunday evening, Streep — who was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award — made this distinction while delivering her acceptance speech, a major portion of which was aimed at criticizing President-elect Donald Trump. One way she did this was to say, “Hollywood is crawling with outsiders and foreigners,” referring to the view of key players in the industry that the soon-to-be US leader is anti-immigration.

To illustrate her claim, Streep named a number of her peers present, who hailed from other countries. She pointed to Amy Adams, who was born in Venice, Italy; she mentioned Ruth Negga, from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; she noted Dev Patel, from Kenya; and Ryan Gosling who, “like all the nicest people,” was born in Canada. When she brought up Portman, however, she only stated that the “Jackie” star was born in Jerusalem.

One Twitter user commented: “Meryl Streep at Golden Globes was anti-Israel…Notice how Meryl Streep named every foreign actor’s country except Natalie Portman’s.” Another called Streep an “antisemite.” Yet another wrote: “Meryl Streep severing Jerusalem from Israel is a tactic of anti-Zionists.”

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This is pushing it too far. She may in fact not be a fan of Israel, and zionism, but she ain’t a Jew, and I am not so sure if one can infer she is “anti Zionist,” based on what said. When “Jews” change their names, toss in with enemies of Jews and Israel, that pisses me off.

Salomon

“Liberal” Jews will still lick her ass…Spineless persons

dani renan

Ridiculous. I know that Meryl Streep is Liberal (as am I). But I don’t know what her views on Zionism are. Just the fact that she mentioned an Israeli actress (who directed her first movie – in Hebrew), shows a likelihood that she is not a BDS supporter (BDS, as a Hamas organization, considers anything that comes out of Israel to be inherently evil).

To look at it another way, most Americans don’t know where Addis Ababa is. In fact the majority probably couldn’t identify Ethiopia either, while many would identify it as generically somewhere “in Africa”. Even Venice (Venezia). Especially in LA, without noting that we are talking about the city of Venus, Italy, most would think of Venice Beach in LA.

But Jerusalem? Most people in the world have at least heard of it, and probably most (at least most Christians and Muslims) know where it is.

When I say that I’m from Jerusalem or I studied in Jerusalem, that’s all I say. In fact, I’ve never heard Neta-lee (Portman) say Jerusalem, Israel. She just says Jerusalem, usually after or followed by I’m Israeli.

Also to note that when I say it to an Arab, especially a Palestinian, I’ll say “ana mn Al-Quds” with an air of superiority, that the Jerusalem Arabs also use when talking to a non-Yerushalmi. I don’t even have to point out which Al-Quds (the Holy), since it is implied.

andrewsc

I actually liked Streep mentioning Jerusalem (it was the only positive part of her speech). Yes, we the Jewish people are up and running, from our ancient capital to the screens of the world

That’s just being petty….for one thing Streep read names from a
teleprompter…the intros had nothing to do with her…who ever wrote the intros looked at IMDB which listed Jerusalem as Portman’s birthplace…it has nothing to do with anti Zionism.

Michael

so you speculate.

henrytobias

A real non-story. The Algemeiner shouldn’t scrape the barrel for stories.

Michael

but you agree when the barrel is being scraped crap like these people are dredged up

rabbimfriedman@yahoo.com

No difference! right, center or left anti Semites!!!

Brooklyn Ave.

I honestly don’t see what the problem is…Jerusalem is the Capital of Israel…..She didn’t mean a thing….unless she happens to be a palestinian supporter…then you might have something!!!

ArnoldLayne

However most countries do not recognize that fact. The United States does but has so far refused to move it Embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. Trump promises to do that.